Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed India’s young population at the centre of his Independence Day address on Saturday, announcing free online coaching for competitive examinations and a nationwide programme to train 1 crore (10 million) young people in artificial intelligence over the next year.
Speaking from the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said the free coaching network would bring together teachers, educators and the country’s digital public infrastructure. The stated aim is to reduce the financial pressure on families who often spend heavily on private coaching for government and other competitive examinations.
The announcement comes at a time when examination systems and access to affordable preparation have become increasingly sensitive issues among young Indians. Students preparing for government recruitment examinations have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged irregularities, delays and the cost of coaching. Recent student protests in several parts of the country have also brought questions about jobs and examination transparency into the political conversation.
PM Modi did not announce a single new examination system but spoke of creating a wider online coaching ecosystem that students could access without the need to move to major coaching centres. The details of the programme, including when it will begin, which examinations will be covered and how teachers will be selected, are yet to be fully outlined.
The second major youth initiative is focused on artificial intelligence. PM Modi said 1 crore young people would receive AI skills training within the coming year, with the broader goal of preparing Indian workers for an economy increasingly shaped by emerging technologies.
For students and job seekers, the two announcements address different parts of the same challenge. Free coaching could make preparation more accessible, while AI training is aimed at creating skills for newer areas of employment.
The government is presenting both measures as part of its wider Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, with young Indians expected to play a central role in building a developed economy.
The announcements now leave an important question beyond the Red Fort speech: how quickly these promises can be turned into programmes that students can actually access, and whether they can make a measurable difference to the cost of preparation and availability of future jobs.
